I love starting my day with an iced latte from Peet’s Coffee.  This year, I decided to get up even earlier each morning and turn my coffee outing into a “drive with God”…  I leave the house alone, put on the same worship song (Goodness of God by Jenn Johnson) and before I ask God for anything I spend the first half of my drive telling God how good He really is.  I verbally list out all the things I’m thankful for – whatever comes to mind – and I try to come up with new things each time.  Sometimes I’m so tired I have to work hard to find the words and other mornings I’m so overwhelmed by the love and goodness of God that I cry my way through my list.  My drive with God has become an essential part of my day and life.  It’s my daily, dedicated time to connect with God by remembering and receiving His love.  When I get back home I feel filled up and ready to give love to others.  I find that, even on my hardest days, I still have something to give.

I’ve read these verses in 1 John many times but I stumbled upon them in The Passion Translation recently: 

“Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love.  Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him… Delightfully loved ones, if he loved us with such tremendous love, then ‘loving one another’ should be our way of life!” (1 John 4:7 & 11)

Pastor Jerry has been encouraging us to spend the summer 1) connecting with God and 2) connecting with the church.  For me, these verses perfectly illustrate that: being loved by God and letting it pour from me to others.  The immense love God has for us allows us to make loving others our way of life.

This season, many people are feeling discouraged, anxious, afraid and weary.  You might be feeling it yourself.  BUT we still have something to give… the love of God.  My secret to loving others is to first spend time receiving the love of God.  It’s difficult to give what we have not received.  I want to challenge you to get alone with God this week and receive His love.  Connect with God this summer so that you can stay connected to others.  Schedule a daily time – your own version of a “drive with God” – where you can remember how much He loves you and rehearse how thankful you feel!  Then go and make loving others your way of life.

My 6 steps to start your day with love:

1. Get up early at 6am before anyone else is awake

2. Throw your hair in a bun and sneak out in your comfy sweats

3. Turn up your worship music and sing along loudly as you drive

4. Tell God all the things you are thankful for 

5. Stop by a coffee shop and pick up your coffee and favorite pastry 

6. Sit in your car and enjoy them!  Crack your window & get some fresh air

7. Pull out your bible & journal and spend some time talking with God.  Listen to what He is saying and ask Him to fill you up for the day

Share below what helps you give more love.

💕 Jenny Schneider